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11 best blemish control face washes to fight acne
Sweat can lead to breakouts, so grab one of our tried and tested active cleansers
Fed up of giving it your all in the gym, only to break out in more spots than a hormonal teenager? Unfortunately, acne is a common side effect of getting your sweat on, no matter your age. Enter blemish control face washes.
These specially formulated active cleansers help to unclog your pores and keep your skin looking fresh, healthy and ready for that medal-biting post-race photo.
What is the best blemish control face wash?
There’s an overwhelming choice of acne-busting products available, so the Runner’s World Lab put 34 to the test to find the best for all skin types. We recruited 470 male and female testers with blemished skin to help us compile our top 11:
- Best blemish control face wash: Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Cleansing Gel
- Best face wash for oil control: Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
- Best luxury face wash: Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser
- Best face wash for blackheads and best budget face wash: Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub
- Best face wash for quick results: Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel
- Best face wash for acne-prone skin: Salcura Antiac Face Wash
- Best men’s face wash: Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
- Best face wash bar: Carbon Theory Cleansing Bar
- Best face wash for dull, tired skin: Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash
- Best face wash for sensitive skin: CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
- Best face wash for dry skin: Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Clearing and Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser
Why does exercising cause breakouts?
Exercise is good for our skin – it gets our blood circulating, which helps transport fresh oxygen and nutrients around our body to keep us healthy. Sweating is good for us too – it cools us down and flushes out toxins while we’re working out – but leaving sweat on the skin after a run can be troublesome, especially if you have oily skin that’s prone to breakouts anyway.
Louise Walsh, the dermatology and aesthetic nurse behind The Skin Nurse, explains: “Sweat leaves an oily layer of sebum on our skin, which traps dirt, bacteria and dead skin, leading to clogged pores, white heads and inflammation.”
Gross, huh?
How do I get rid of blemishes?
“The best thing to do after a workout is drink up and wash up – rehydrate, clean your skin and change your clothes,” says Louise.
Different face washes will work best for different skin types, but she recommends looking for gentle, oil-free cleansers made with salicylic acid, clay and/or lactic, mandelic and glycolic acids, all of which help to clear pores and regulate oiliness.
Can face wash make acne worse?
“It’s important to remember that acne isn’t only about oil and spots, but also inflammation,” says Louise. “If possible, avoid harsh ingredients that can cause further irritation and lead to longer lasting breakouts, such as perfumes, sodium chloride, SLS and essential oils.”
Lots of cleansers – including many on our list – feature foaming ingredients (namely SLS) that can strip your skin of its natural comforting moisture, as well as its excess oil. This may make your skin feel tight and itchy, leading it to create more oil in an effort to re-moisturise itself. Combat this by moisturising immediately after cleansing or using a non-foaming face wash if your skin is already quite dry.
How do I stop acne from coming back?
Louise advises her clients to avoid wearing skin makeup while exercising, as it can get trapped inside open pores and cause acne.
“Try not to touch your face during exercise – our hands touch everything and you don’t want to pass all those dust and dirt particles onto your clean skin,” she says.
“Pat your face dry with something clean, rather than wiping the sweat across your skin with a towel, and wear loose, breathable fabric that won’t cause friction and irritation.”
How we test
We recruited a panel of 470 men and women – all with mild to extremely blemished skin – and asked them to test 34 brands of blemish control face wash over a four-week trial period.
They gave feedback on how clean, soft and hydrated each product left their skin feeling and whether it helped improve the appearance of blemishes. Factors such as packaging, consistency, scent and value for money were also considered when curating our list of 11 top picks.
Ready to banish those blemishes? Let’s get your skin in as great a condition as your glutes.
Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution Purifying Cleansing Gel
Our winning cleanser claims to leave skin clearer after only a week of use, as well as minimising the appearance of blackheads and pores within a month. Our testers liked its gentle gel formula and uplifting scent, but one firm pump dispensed a touch too much product, so press gently.
Everybody said it left their skin feeling refreshingly purified, with most agreeing that it rebalanced oiliness without drying them out and 86% noticing fewer blemishes by the end of the trial. It won't remove eye makeup – unideal if you’re dashing straight to the gym from the office – but is otherwise well worth the money.
Key specifications
Volume: 200ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Pump
Suitable for: Oily skin, sensitive skin
Ole Henriksen Find Your Balance Oil Control Cleanser
If your face looks shiny before you’ve even started jogging, your skin might be producing too much oil. Enter this hydrating cleanser, which makes use of neem seed oil (we know that sounds counterintuitive, but it works) to unclog pores without stripping them dry.
Our testers noted that its thick consistency meant a little went a long way, making it more reasonable than its £20 price tag suggests. They enjoyed that ‘clean feeling’ after washing with it and 87% said it helped control excess sebum all day, but some said it made their skin tighten slightly uncomfortably. Most of the panel were experiencing fewer imperfections four weeks later, leaving the majority happy to continue using it.
Key specifications
Volume: 147ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Oily skin
Kate Somerville EradiKate Daily Foaming Cleanser
The priciest cleanser on our roundup got the biggest thumbs up from our panel, so blame them for their expensive taste. Designed with blemish-prone skin in mind (hence the 3% sulphur), it works to clear spots while balancing oiliness to prevent future breakouts.
Our testers liked its whipped texture, which wasn’t at all drying, and said it helped to mattify their T-zones. Its scent proved divisive and some found it trickier to rinse off than their usual product, but they didn’t need to use much to enjoy a deep cleanse. It quickly brought down blemishes and redness to leave their skin looking brighter and smoother - result.
Key specifications
Volume: 120ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Oily skin
Garnier Pure Active 3 in 1 Charcoal Blackhead Mask Wash Scrub
Skincare regimes can be costly and time-consuming to maintain, so if you don’t want cleansing cutting into your CrossFit session or your bank balance, consider this bargain 3-in-1 job. It’s infused with antibacterial charcoal and can be used as a face wash, scrub or mask depending on your skin’s needs each day.
Our testers unanimously agreed that it effectively removed makeup, helped with oil control and left their skin feeling softer. Some would have preferred more lather and others were put off by its dark colour, but it scored the highest for blitzing blackheads and calming inflammation, leaving everybody impressed enough to use it again.
Key specifications
Volume: 150ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Oily skin, men
Bioderma Sebium Foaming Gel
This cleansing gel produces a cooling foam that feels blissfully refreshing after a long hot run. Ideal for combination skin types, our testers found it a speedy makeup remover that helped to regulate their sebum production and shine. They liked its faff-free pump packaging and rated its fresh scent the best on test.
It lathered up well and rinsed off easily, but most impressively, it improved their skin’s condition after the first use, leaving it visibly clearer and more radiant. Drier skin types may find it a touch harsh, but look no further if you want to zap any blemishes immediately.
Key specifications
Volume: 200ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Pump
Suitable for: Oily skin, acne-prone skin
Salcura Antiac Face Wash
If acne is plaguing you to the point that you avoid getting sweaty in a bid to calm your raging skin, try this pH neutral face wash. Made using clinically proven ingredients and plenty of natural extracts, it helps to balance your oil levels while replenishing moisture and soothing irritation.
Our testers loved its ‘luxuriously thick’ gel texture and subtle scent, but it was easy to squeeze too much out of the tube, so take it easy. It left their skin feeling hydrated and purified, with 92% enjoying a deep cleanse and 85% reporting that it helped control excess sebum. You’ve just lost your excuse for missing Spin class...
Key specifications
Volume: 150ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Oily skin, acne-prone skin, sensitive skin
Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic Facial Cleanser
Men, listen up, this multipurpose face wash and mask is for you. Made using kaolin clay, glycolic acid and volcanic ash, it claims to free your skin of any grimy buildup while also preventing ingrown hairs from shaving.
Over 90% of testers rated it highly for ease of use, meaning they could spend less time over the sink and more time pounding those trails. Some found the texture a little thick and others would have preferred a more hydrating formula, but if your skin is oily rather than dry, you’ll like how quickly it lathers up, clears blemishes and leaves your face and hands feeling smoother.
Our panel saw improvements in only a few days and some even noticed a reduction in the appearance of wrinkles. Everybody plans to keep using it, so jump on the bandwagon.
Key specifications
Volume: 147ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Oily skin, men
You’ll turn some heads in the changing room when you whip out this black cleansing bar, but don’t let that deter you from giving it a go. Eco-friendly and vegan, it’s made with antiseptic tea tree oil, moisturising shea butter and activated charcoal, which draws out impurities from your skin to leave it looking clearer and brighter.
Our testers were surprised by how easily it lathered up, with 90% finding it easy to rub on and wash off. They liked the ‘tingling yet invigorating’ feeling it gave them after cleansing and reported softer skin after only one use. Steer clear if you’ve got dry skin, but it’s a top pick for oil control and comes with a resealable bag for mess-free transportation.
Key specifications
Volume: 100g
Format: Bar
Packaging type: Bar in resealable bag
Suitable for: Oily skin
Balance Me Pure Skin Face Wash
Living in a city or burnt out from working too hard? If your stressed-out skin is in need of some TLC, this face wash will give it the glow up it deserves. Formulated to suit combination skin, it blends grapefruit, chamomile and frankincense oils to remove impurities gently but effectively.
It left our testers looking and feeling revitalised, though some would have preferred more foam when cleansing. Its thick texture meant it took a while to rinse off, but it dispensed easily, smelt pleasant and didn’t leave any residue. Those with drier skin experienced some tightening, but their newfound radiance made any temporary discomfort bearable.
Key specifications
Volume: 125ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Combination skin
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
Finding the right cleanser can be an arduous task if your skin is on the sensitive side. Happily, this fragrance-free face and body wash has been designed to clean deeply yet gently, without damaging your skin’s delicate protective barrier.
Our testers thought its texture was just right – not too thick or runny – and 80% said it effectively lifted all manner of daily grime to leave their skin feeling purified and less oily. They reported a rapid improvement to their skin’s overall condition, with 79% satisfied enough with its performance to keep using it. It offers decent value for money, so give it a try if your skin’s a bit of a diva.
Key Specifications
Volume: 236ml
Format: Foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Pump
Suitable for: Oily skin, sensitive skin
Boots Tea Tree & Witch Hazel Clearing and Nourishing Hot Cloth Cleanser
If you suffer from itchy, dry skin, look for a non-foaming cleanser with a creamy formula. Here’s one such example, which comes with a muslin cloth to help remove all sweat, dirt and makeup under hot water, including waterproof mascara.
It’s formulated with blemish-battling tea tree oil and witch hazel and our testers reported less redness after use – once they’d cooled down from that HIIT session, that is. It helped regulate oiliness, leaving them feeling fresh and well-nourished. They also said it felt soothing to use and helped moisturiser absorb more quickly, which is ideal if your skin is often thirsty.
Key specifications
Volume: 100ml
Format: Non-foaming liquid-gel
Packaging type: Tube
Suitable for: Dry skin
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